UN Advocates for a "Demitarian" Diet

Some food for thought!

http://www.meatfreemondays.com/news/un-scientists-advocate-demitarian-diet-2/

Recipe for Meatless Monday!

Today also kicks off National Vegetarian Week, so stay tuned for more delicious, meat-free meals all week!

Cauliflower and Chickpea Curry
Serves 4-6
Prep time: 10 min
Cook time: 30 min
Ready time: 40 min

A beautifully simple, light curry from River Cottage - perfect for a family meal on a Meat Free Monday.

Ingredients 
1 medium-large cauliflower (about 800 g), trimmed
2 tablespoons sunflower oil
3 onions, chopped
4 garlic cloves, chopped
1 teaspoon freshly grated ginger
2 teaspoons ground coriander
2 teaspoons ground cumin
a large pinch of dried chilli flakes
2 star anise
400 g tin plum tomatoes, chopped, any stalky ends and skin removed
400 g tin chickpeas, drained and rinsed
2 teaspoons garam masala
a good handful of coriander, chopped
sea salt and freshly ground black pepper

Method

Cut the cauliflower into medium florets. Put into a large pan, cover with cold water, add some salt and bring up to a rolling boil. This will part-cook the cauli. Take off the heat straight away, drain well and keep warm in the pan.

Heat the oil in a large saucepan over a medium heat. Add the onions,garlic and ginger and sauté for about 10 minutes, stirring often.

Add the ground coriander, cumin, chilli flakes, star anise and somesalt and pepper and cook for a further 5 minutes.

Add the tomatoes with their juice and the chickpeas. Stir well, then add the cooked cauliflower. Pour in enough cold water to almost but not quite cover everything (100–200 ml) and bring to a simmer.

Simmer for 5–10 minutes, stirring once or twice, until the caulifloweris tender.

Stir in the garam masala and half the chopped coriander, then check the seasoning.

Serve scattered with the remaining coriander andaccompanied by rice, flatbreads or naans.

Recipe from Meat Free Monday

Fresh Fruit and Veggie Recipes for Spring

Warmer temperatures, fresh produce -- what could be better?

Here are some tasty fruit and veggie recipes to get ready for spring!
From http://www.health.com/health/gallery/0,,20306841,00.html

Cherry Compote Over Goat Cheese

Apricot-Glazed Roasted Asparagus






Asian Spinach Salad

Fusilli with Scallops and Peas (my personal favorite!) 

Cilantro-Lime Shrimp Tacos

Chilled Avocado Soup







Honey Grapefruit with Banana (possibly best enjoyed on the lanai at BSG)

You're Too Sweet!

If you're looking to add a little sweetener to your daily cup of tea or coffee or favorite old recipe, you may want to check out Greatist's list of 30 Sugar Substitutes for Any and Every Possible Situation.  The list includes some well-known sweeteners like agave nectar and honey, but also some lesser known subs like coconut sugar and brown rice syrup. Get your (smart) sweet on!

Meatfree Revolution

Way to get on board, Bates family! Check out these meatless meals

from Tampa

to Atlanta

to Maryland

to New York

Getting healthy all the way down the eastern seaboard! :-)

Can You Be Happy for 100 Days in a Row?

I just found out about this challenge and think it is an AMAZING idea. I know that we don't all have Twitter, but there are other ways to participate.  Here's more about the challenge: http://100happydays.com/

This challenge is all about YOU, but wouldn't it be nice to do together as a family?

I'm in! Who's with me??*

(*you can comment/reply on the blog)

Why Middleton Meatless Mondays?

An interview with the Middleton matriarch:

So the Middletons are doing Meatless Mondays. That's great! What made you decide to start doing this?

JAM: I was inspired about the blog you wrote about all of the benefits of going without meat.

How did you find preparing the first meal? Was it easy or hard?

JAM: Honestly it was easy! There are so many meals you can prepare without meat for instance pizza, lasagna, chili etc...

Do you plan to continue Meatless Mondays for the foreseeable future?

JAM: Yes, we really will continue. Although we will probably always have leftovers so it will be meatless Monday and Tuesday.  Then we need to work in meatless lunches.

What impact do you hope it has on your family?

JAM: I hope it makes us healthier! And not so reliant on meat.

Any advice for someone considering Meatless Mondays?

JAM: My advice is just try it! It really is easy and it will make you feel as if you are making a contribution to a healthier lifestyle for you and your family!

Here's a look at the delicious dinner that the Middletons had last night -- creamy tomato and roasted red pepper linguine with spinach and French bread on the side. If the pic below doesn't make you want to consider going meatless, I don't know what will!: